Forming device



' March 3, 1942.

w. A. wlscKol.

FORMING DEVICE Filed June 4, 1938 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNiTED ST rom/[ING DEVICEv William A. Wisckol, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Douglas & Lomason Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 4, 19.38, sel-miic. 211,743

(o1. 15s-4o) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to forming devices and more particularly to devices or machines for bending longitudinally rolled sections or strips of metal stock to desired curvilinear shapes. In one of its aspects this invention contemplates the provision of an improved method for longitudinally bending rolled metal sections or the like into predetermined curvilinear shapes.

One of th objects fo the present invention is to provide an improved bending machine and method whereby a plurality of metal strips of complex cross section, such as rolled metal sections, may be simultaneously bent into predetermined curvilinear shapes, the invention being particularly adapted for the purpose of bending at the same time in one operation a plurality of symmetrical but not necessarily identical strips.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved device or machine for bending strips of rolled stock having reinforcing anges, wherein means are provided to'prevent wrinkling of any portion of the strip during the bending operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved forming device enabling simultane- Y ous bending to a desired longitudinal curvature of a plurality of relatively long metal strips or sections of complex cross section, such Aas are produced by rolling.

It is an added object of the present invention to provide an improved device of the foregoing character, which is simple in construction and dependable in operatiomis easy to operate and has high production capacity.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a machine embodying the present invention, the workpieces being shown in position just before the bending commences.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine showing the workpieces and the pressure shoes removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is asectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and illustrating the means for holding the workpieces in position while bending.

Fig. 6 shows a pair of moldings bent with the aid of the device embodying the present invention.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other ,embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings there is shown, by way of example, a device or machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The device illustrated is intended for bending moldings, such for instance as are used for frames of the rear windows in a motor vehicle body, said moldings being bent to a similar but v reversed longitudinal curvature.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises, first, a bed or base platev II) supporting the mechanism. A forming head comprising a lower plate II and an upper plate I2 is arranged on the base plate I0, said plates being adapted to rotate around an axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of a shaft I3. The shaft I3 has a milled portion I3a by which it engages the plate II for rotating the same. Driving blocks I4 are bolted to the lower platen I I and engage the upper platen I2 at the corresponding recesses provided therein. By virtue of such construction, rotation of the lower plate II is attained with the aid of the shaft I3 rotated from any desirable source and through any suitable means, while rotation of the upper plate is attained with the aid of the driving blocks secured to the lower plate II. The shaft I3 is provided with a reduced cylindrical end I3b passing through the upper plate I2. On the upper end of said shaft there is provided a bolt, formed preferably integral with said shaft, with the aid of which a clamping crossshaped member I5 is held in place. When a nut I6 is tightened or drawn down, the clamping member I5 presses the upper plate I2 toward the lower plate II holding them firmly together. Proper clearance is ensured by provision of a shoulder on the shaftv I3, against which the plate I2 rests.

Around the periphery of the plates II and I2 there are provided two substantially similar recesses or grooves I1 and I 8 adapted to receive two workpieces and 2|. In the present instance these recesses are symmetrical and form together a channel shaped recess, the platens II and I2 being slightly spaced apart as mentioned to provide a central longitudinal slot or clearance space 50 along the base of the recess, see Fig. 5. The workpieces are to be bent to a substantially similar but reversed longitudinal curvature, said pieces being intended to be used as the lefthand and the right-hand frame portions of the rear window of a motor vehicle body. The pieces have identical cross sections, being cut from the same rolled stock. In the present embodiment the cross section employed is double angled or of the Z-shaped type. The recesses I1 and I8 have their cross sections suitable for receiving the workpieces 20 and 2| when the same are arranged symmetrically with their flanges 20a and 2 Ia in contact. The flanges 26a and 2 Ia are similar cross sectional elements of the workpieces. Therefore, when said pieces are arranged together in the recesses I1 and I8 with said flanges in contact and lying within the slot or clearance space 50 and the workpieces are bent to a desired longitudinal curvature, the resulting strips have similar but reversed curvatures, as shown in Fig. 6. Such strips or sections are particularly suitable for building up structures symmetrical along some center line, such as a rear window of a motor vehicle body, as in the present instance.

Means for gripping the ends of the workpieces for retaining the same in position during the processes of bending are of the friction type, and they comprise a stationary wedge block secured in any desired manner to the upper plate I2 and a movable wedge block 26 slidable in slots 21 provided in the lower plate II. Guide pins 28 carrying compression springs 29 urge the block 26 outwardly of the plate II. As the upper plate I2 moves down, the inclined cam surfaces of the block 25 engage the similar surfaces of the movable block 26, shifting .the movable block inwardly toward the center of the plate. Thus, when the clamping cross I5 is drawn down with the aid of the nut I6, the block 26 is firmly pressed against both plates,

see Fig. 5, holding the workpieces in place b y friction. When the workpieces 20 and 2I are in such position as shown in Fig. 4 they extend in a rectilinear direction tangentially with respect to the curve of the grooves. However, if pressure is applied on the free portions of the workpieces progressively along the entire length thereof, the workpieces are bent into the grooves to correspond to the curvature thereof, thereby producing two pieces of similar but .reversed curvature. i

In the present embodiment, the means ,for applying the pressure on the workpieces are of the hydraulic type, and they comprise 4a plunger 36 operated by the hydraulic 'cylinder 3i, a cross head 32 being .provided on the plunger, said cross head sliding between guides 33. An extension 34 of the plunger 30 is adapted to Abear against a pressure block 35 to which there are hingedly connected two shoes 36. The outer surfaces 36a of the shoes 36 are shaped to conform to and t .the inner channel .surfaces of the workpieces when the same are arranged with their similar flanges .in-contact. If ,a iiuid under pressure isadrnitted to the l'cylinder ,3.1, the plunger 30 will move toward the plates, ex-

erting pressure on the block 35 and the shoes 36 which, in turn, press on the workpieces 26 and 2I. This condition is illustrated in Fig. 1. When the forming members or platens I I and I2 are rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, the workpieces 26 and 2| are bent by the application of the pressure, and the desired bent pieces are thereby produced.

It willbe understood that pneumatic means may be substituted for the hydraulic means herein employed or other suitable means may be utilized which is capable of exerting high yielding pressure on the pressure shoes 36. During the process of actual bending ample lubrication of the workpiece 20 and 2| and the pressure shoes 36 is 'highly desirable.

When bending of the workpieces 20 and 2I is completed, the fluid pressure on the plunger 36 is released and the same is returned to its original position. The plates II and I2 are rotated to their original position, the nut I.6 is loosened to permit removal of the workpieces20 and 2I and insertion of new pieces in place for a succeeding operation.

It is clear that by virtue of the invention the production capacity of the bending machine employing the same is increased twice as com pared with a machine in which .the workpieces are bent one by one. It will be understood that more than yone pair of forming members or platens in superimposed or banked relation may .be used `in one machine for bending in one operation -a multiple number of strips.

It Ywill also be clear in view of the foregoing that devices yother than the improved device herein described may be employed for producing structures of similar but reversed longitudinal .curvature in accordance with my improved method described above.

I claim:

1. In a device for bending simultaneously to a desired curvature two flanged strips, said device `including a rotatable head comprising a lower plate and .an upper plate superimposed on said lower plate and separable therefrom, a shaft drivingly connected to :said plates for rotating the same, a shoulder on said shaft adapted to support said upper plate and thus to define a predetermined clearance between said plates when said upper plate is rsuperimposed over `said lower zplate, .said plates being provided at their edges with two complementary recesses forming in superimposed condition ofthe plates a channel extending around their `peripheries andadapted to receive two flanged strips superimposed one upon Y.the other in such a way as to .have their similar flanges in direct Contact and adapted to enter the clearance space as the strips are bent into .said fchannel, a pressure shoe adapted to force `said strips into said channel and Vto fit 4tightly within the `cross sectional confines rof said strips in order to produce :ironing action thereon, a clamping member adapted to `exert force on said upper plate at a plurality .of points removed from said shaft in order to press the middle portion of 'said plate against said shoulder and to support the outer periphery of said plate by resisting the yreactive force produced by said strips ,due to the ironing action of ,said pressure shoe, and a second shoulder on said shaft `adapted to support said clamping member and thus to limit .the pressure `which said member may exert ron the periphery of said :upper plate.

2. In a device for bending simultaneously to a desired curvature two flanged strips, said device including a rotatable head comprising a lower plate and an upper plate superimposed on said lower plate and separable therefrom, a shaft drivingly connected tosaid plates for rotating the same, a shoulder on said shaft adapted to support said upper plate and thus to define a predetermined clearance between said plates when said lower plate is superimposed over said upper plate, said plates being provided at their edges with two complementary recesses forming in superimposed condition of the plates a channel extending around their peripheries and adapted to receive two flanged strips superimposed one upon the other in such way as to have their similar flanges in direct contact and adapted to enter the clearance space as the strips are bent into said channel, a fluid actuated pressure shoe adapted to force said strips into said channel and to t tightly within the cross sectional confines of said strips in order to produce ironing action thereon, a clamping member adapted to exert force on said upper plate at a plurality of points removed from said shaft in order to press the middle portion of said plate against said shoulder and to support the outer periphery of said plate by resisting the reactive force produced by `said strips due to the ironing action of said pressure shoe, and a second shoulder on said shaft adapted to support said clamping member and thus to limit the pressure which said member may exert on the periphery of said upper plate, a workpiece holding member in said channel adapted when pressed inwardly to hold the ends of said workpieces in the channel by friction, wedge means on said upper plate adapted to exert inward pressure on said holding member when said clamping member exerts pressure on said upper plate.

WILLIAM A. WISCKOL. 

